He chaired a number of local societies including Diss Rotary Club and Diss Museum.

Dr Jan Hunt, headteacher at Diss High School, added: “Rev Sasada was a teacher at Diss High School for 37 years and was respected by all who knew him.

“The school is sorry to learn of his passing – he was a pillar of the community.”

Diss Museum Manager Basil Abbott added: “Ben was for several years Chairman of our Trustees and was one of four museum people to be made Honoured Citizen of the town.

The school is sorry to learn of his passing – he was a pillar of the community

Dr Jan Hunt, headteacher, Diss High School

“He was a good man of whom everyone spoke well.”

Mr Sasada was a Second World War evacuee. He arrived in Thelveton as an eight-year-old, a mile away from where his mother and brother had been sent from London.

He celebrated his diamond wedding in 2014 with Mrs Sasada, and the couple were known for running dozens of evening classes in Diss and the surrounding villages. They had four children and eight grandchildren.